Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing got up and walked to the window. Looking out, he saw fine snowflakes falling in a flurry under the leaden sky.

It really snowed.

He stretched out his hand, and a light snowflake landed right in his palm, bringing a cool touch. It then turned into a barely perceptible watermark that quietly spread.

Come to think of it, this was the first snow he had seen since arriving in this land.

"Snow! It's snowing! It's snowing! I want to build a snow pile... build..."

Hu Hai's excited shouts grew louder as he ran to the corridor and looked up to see Zhou Wenqing's figure inside the window. His voice suddenly lowered, like a quail whose neck had been choked.

He subconsciously raised his hand to rub his buttocks before standing up properly and muttering softly, "Mr. Zhou... it's snowing."

Strangely enough, after that incident where he established his authority, Mr. Zhou never actually laid a hand on him again. But for some reason, Hu Hai harbored a strange fear of Mr. Zhou, who always had a gentle face and spoke slowly and deliberately.

What Hu Hai couldn't understand was that recently his father seemed to be particularly "concerned" about his little bottom.

It's one thing to frequently pull him aside for a lecture, but if he shows even the slightest sign of mischief, he's guaranteed a thorough "admonition" that leaves his bottom burning with pain!

So much so that now, even in his own palace, Hu Hai feels restless, as if if he stays any longer, the next meal of "stir-fried pork with bamboo sticks" will come uninvited.

There was nothing he could do. Even though he was afraid of Mr. Zhou, he could only sneak over to the Zhou residence from time to time, still claiming to be asking for tutoring, but in reality... he was there to avoid trouble and escape disaster.

At least here, Hu Hai secretly pondered that Mr. Zhou's beatings... always had a reason. As long as he didn't make any big mistakes or deliberately cause trouble to annoy him, his backside was probably safe.

Moreover, he had secretly compared the two, and it seemed that Mr. Zhou's attack was indeed not as painful as his father's.

Poor Hu Hai still doesn't understand the crux of the matter: it wasn't that he was beaten in the palace and ran to the Zhou residence for refuge. On the contrary, it was precisely because he was often "exiled" to the Zhou residence that his father wanted to give him a warning in advance, so that he wouldn't recklessly add fuel to the fire when Zhou Wenqing was already overwhelmed with work.

"Yes, it's snowing."

Zhou Wenqing nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the snowflakes dancing outside the window before turning his head to look inside.

Behind the desk, the two children had already put down their pens upon hearing the sound.

Fusu gently placed the inkstone down, his usually calm eyes now sparkling, reflecting the snow light outside the window.

Ah Zhu couldn't contain himself any longer. Like a nimble little deer, he darted to the window in a few quick steps, tiptoed, and peeked out, wishing he could press his face against the cool windowpane. Unfortunately, he wasn't tall enough, so he could only hurriedly ask:

"Sir! Is it really snowing? Is the snow heavy?"

They were still children after all. Looking at their lively and bright appearance, Zhou Wenqing felt a lump in her throat.

He chuckled softly, walked to the door, pushed it open, and a gust of cold wind, carrying snowflakes, rushed in, its crisp, refreshing scent carrying a gentle warmth as he responded:

"How heavy is the snow? Why don't you go out and take a look in the yard?"

Fusu had already walked slowly to the door, gazing at the swirling snowflakes, his head tilted back, his little face full of focus:

"The snowflakes look quite large. It would be even better if the snowfall were more abundant. If the snow this winter is deep enough, the soil will be able to be nourished and moistened, and the soil moisture will be sufficient for spring planting next year. Perhaps we can expect a good year with a bumper harvest."

His words already subtly revealed his concern for the harvest. Zhou Wenqing listened, his eyes showing approval, and he nodded secretly.

Ah Zhu, standing to the side, wrinkled his little nose, his worry visibly evident: "Snow is good, but... but it shouldn't snow too heavily."

He recalled last winter, and his voice lowered. "Last year, the snow was thick. My father, in order to exchange for more money and food, took advantage of the snow stopping to gather firewood to sell. He accidentally fell and tore a big hole in the elbow of his winter coat. My mother patched it for a long time, but it was no longer as warm."

He paused, gazing at the snowflakes falling more and more rapidly outside the window, his expression filled with worry:

"If the snow falls even heavier this year, my parents... will probably have a hard time."

Fusu was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and a look of guilt flashed in his clear eyes. He opened his mouth, but did not know what to say, so he could only look to Zhou Wenqing for help.

People's lives are full of hardship. A family shares a single winter coat, patched upon patched, how can it keep them warm... Zhou Wenqing sighed inwardly.

He raised his hand and gently rubbed Ah Zhu's slightly wilted head: "Don't worry, the master will have someone send newly made winter clothes to your family. Everyone will receive one, and they'll be very warm. They won't have a hard time getting through the winter."

"R-Really?!"

Ah Zhu suddenly raised his head, his eyes widening instantly, his face flushed red with excitement and surprise.

"Of course it's true," Zhou Wenqing affirmed, his tone firm and solemn.

"These days, if it weren't for Ah-Zhu's help in carefully checking the accounts and sorting the receipts, the master would have had to spend so much more time and energy. The master remembers all the credit for this."

He gently patted Ah Zhu's shoulder and said softly, "It's just a few winter clothes. Consider it payment for Ah Zhu's help to the master. You earned it for the family with your own abilities, so you can accept it without any guilt."

"This...this is not right..."

Ah-Zhu knew his family's situation well, and these winter clothes were a godsend; he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

In his heart, the fact that his teacher provided him with food and lodging and taught him was already a great kindness. How could he take such a precious gift for granted?

Besides, all I did was glance at the account books and run a few errands. These were all trivial matters. How could they be compared to the thick winter clothes that would keep the whole family warm and cozy throughout the winter?

Even if he had seen astonishing amounts of money in the account books, in Xiao Azhu's simple understanding, the most precious thing was clothing that could actually keep out the cold.

Ah Zhu was speechless for a moment, his face turned red with anxiety, he kept scratching the back of his head, and his eyes were slightly hot and sore.

He hesitated for a long time before clenching his little fists tightly, tilting his head back, and saying each word with utmost seriousness:

"Sir, Ah Zhu is still young and can't be of much help right now. He can only look at the account books and run errands. But when Ah Zhu grows up and learns some skills, he will definitely repay you properly and take care of you in your old age!"

"Hahaha, good, I'll take care of you in your old age." Zhou Wenqing looked at his bright, earnest, and stubborn eyes, and felt a surge of warmth in her heart, so she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He replied with a smile, "Sir, I've got it. Our Ah Zhu will definitely be a promising and grateful boy. Sir, you'll be waiting."

Hu Hai remained huddled at the doorway, watching the scene inside with longing eyes, then gazing at the increasingly thick, alluring white snow outside, feeling as if a little cat's paw was constantly scratching at his heart.

Seeing Zhou Wenqing's relaxed expression and smiling face, seemingly in a good mood, he finally couldn't resist leaning forward and tentatively asking, "Mr. Zhou... can I... can I go out and see the snow? Just for a little while!"

"Huhai, don't be silly!" Upon hearing this, Fusu immediately turned around, put on a stern face, and admonished him in a low voice, adopting the demeanor of an elder brother.

"This isn't the palace. There are too many people around. If you rush out recklessly, what if you bump into something or run into someone you shouldn't? Wouldn't that just cause trouble for the teacher?"

"How could there be any danger!" Hu Hai raised his hand, slightly unconvinced, and pointed to the row of guards standing solemnly like pine trees under the corridor outside the courtyard gate.

"Brother, look, with so many people guarding Mr. Zhou's residence, how could anything possibly happen if he only brings a few guards along?"

As he spoke, he turned back, gazing expectantly at Zhou Wenqing, and began to plead and coax, a fawning smile plastered on his face:

"Mr. Zhou, please... all the snow scenes I've seen in the palace look pretty much the same. This is the first time I've seen snow outside the palace. Please let me go play, just for a little while, maybe even build a little snowman? Please, Mr. Zhou~"